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Band Saw Blade Guide
Blade LengthThe blade length is the actual length of the band and varies from saw to saw. The standard blade length for a 14” band saw is 93 ½”, but blades can be made to any length required.The easiest way to find out what length you need is to check the owner’s manual for the recommended blade length. If you can't find the manual contact the manufacturer and ask them. Blade WidthThe blade width is measured from the tip of the blade tooth to the back edge of the band. The common sizes are ¼”, 3/8”, ½”, ¾”, and 1”. The smaller the width the tighter the curve you can make. With larger blades you can increase the tension and cut through thicker stock or resaw.Teeth per Inch (TPI)The teeth per inch or TPI is the is the amount of teeth in an inch measured from gullet to gullet. The fewer the teeth the rougher and faster the cut. More teeth give you a smother cut, but must be fed slower.Most general woodworking requires around 6 to 10 TPI. If you are resawing or cutting through thick stock you’ll need a blade with 2 to 4 TPI. ProfilesThe profile describes the type of tooth on the blade. There are three different common types of profiles; skip tooth, hook tooth, and regular or standard tooth.For general shop use the skip tooth blade will work for most jobs. Standard blades can be used for smoother crosscuts and miters. Hook blades, with their ability to remove a lot of dust, are used for resawing and general ripping. Blade SetThe blade set is the amount each tooth is bent away from the blade to reduce the chances of the blade binding in your piece. Rougher cutting requires a wider set to widen the cut and allow the blade to remove the waste and dust produced.There are also different types of set options; alternate set, raker set, and wavy set. Wavy set is mainly used for cutting metal and won’t be needed. Alternate set is just as it sound, the teeth are set alternately from left to right. This is the set needed for general woodworking to give you a fast clean cut. Raker set blades have one tooth set to the right, one to the left and the third is not set or bent away from the blade. This unset tooth is used to help in clearing away chips when rough cutting and resawing thick stock. Blade MaterialBand saw blades are made from three different type of materials; steel, bi-metal, and carbide tipped blades.Steel blades are sufficient for most home shops. You may want to look at purchasing bimetal blades when cutting thick stock and resawing that cause wear and tear on you blades. Bi-metal blades are primarily made for cutting metal and can hold a good, sharp edge longer than steel. Blade WeldsBand saw blades are made by cutting a strip of blade the length necessary and welding the ends together to make a loop.Always be sure to inspect the weld on your blade before using it. The weld should be smooth and the same thickness as the blade itself. If it’s not, it will wear on your blade guides every time it passes through them. The teeth in the splice should also be properly ground. If you find any defects send the blade back to where you got it and ask for a replacement or you money back. CompareCompare prices and specs at these online stores.Rockler.com (For a free catalog from Rockler.com click here) Hechinger.com Your PicksI can only review and give a my suggestion based on what I think the common home workshop needs are. Here is your chance to disagree with me and share your picks according to your own needs Return from Band Saw Blade Guide to Band Saw GuideReturn from Band Saw Blade Guide to Home
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